Napping device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material



. March 12, 1963 STIC NAPPING DEVICE FOR MODIFYING THE SURFACE C OF A FIBRQUS MATERIAL 3 Sheets-She et 1 Filed March 17, 1960 1 FIG. 4

w m 0 R. /M/ 5 3 .J 0 V N a T e Z N 2 M 0 m v w. y a Z Z 2 m Y z B a v m U :1 +5 "T Q .fliz/ M J 2 H CE CHARACTERISTIC L March 12, 1963 w. H. DUTT ODIFYING THE SURFA A FIBRQUS MATERIA NAPPING DEVICE F0 Filed March 1'7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 12, 1963 w H. DUTT 3,080,637

NAPPING DEVICE FOR MODIFYING THE SURFACE CHARACTERISTIC OF A FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed March 17, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.

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United States Patent s use 637 NAPPING DEVICE m1. ivronruvmo 'rnn sun- FAGE CHARACTERISTHC or A smnous MATE- This invention relates generally to devices and mechanisms for finishing fibrous material, and more particularly to a device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material.

Devices used to modify the surface characteristics of iibrous materials by raising the nap on the material are referred to as napping devices. Many methods and napping structures have been devised for raising the cover or nap on a woven fabric. Two basic methods are currently in vogue. The first utilizes a wire napper or napping device and is employed by cotton and wool flannel manufacturers. Wire nappers when used develop a tearing action as they are drawn over the fabric or as the fabric is drawn over them which reduces fabric strength. The second method, used primarily in the manufacture of paper-making felts, employs a natural burr or teasel whose radially extending points perform the napping action when drawn over the fabric or when the fabric is drawn over them. The nap in the second method is developed by raising or plucking fibers rather than tearing. The natural burr or teasel has many inherent defects and various chemical treatments of the burr have been used to improve it in an attempt to remove these defects.

The device which is the subject of this invention is of the second type, and is used to raise the nap of a fabric by plucking fibers. Many attempts have been made to develop a napping device which would give the desirable results achievable with the teasel and which would avoid the defects of this natural burr.

For example, short pieces of fine wire have been utilized in an attempt to duplicate the result obtained by napping with a teasel. For the most part these attempts have been unsuccessful. The wire nappers now in use still have the defect of tearing the fabric and reducing its strength, and the natural burr or teasel still has a short life and is subject to failure by drying out when located near heating units in a manufacturing plant. In addition, the natural burr or teasel when used necessitates the examination and grading of a large number of the natural burrs to enable a sufficient number of approximately similar dimensions to be selected in order to equip a machine or cylinder which is to be used in the napping process.

Rather than attempt to improve on wire nappers or imitate teasels, this invention is concerned with a completely new device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material by napping, which can replace the natural burr or teasel.

The invention herein disclosed has as its principal object the provision of a device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material by napping which has all of the advantages of teasel nappers now in use and which will have additional advantages as well, including greater durability, uniformity, and longer life.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material by napping, the size and shape of which can be selected in accordance with the size and shape of the fabric to be worked.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material by napping characteristics of which can be seto 3,080,637 Patented Mar. 12, 1963- lected in accordance with the nap desired and the fabric to be worked.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which can be duplicated so that all such devices are identical having the same configuration and napping characteristics and which can replace the teasel napping devices presently in use without altering the present equipment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a teasel napping device which will not plug with fibers.

A device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material embodying the invention and the manner of using the same is described herein with references to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a napper cylinder having mounted thereon a series of devices for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material which have been constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a napper for use on the napper cylinder shown in FIG. 1 formed of a natural burr or teasel;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a napper for use on the napper cylinder shown in FIG. 1 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially sectional elevational view of the napper shown in FIG. 3 with portions there of shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a napping disc of the type used to form the napper shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the other side of the napping disc shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-8 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a napping disc constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 1010 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 9.;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line I l-14 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 9.

One of the usual methods of modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material is to run the material over a large napper cylinder, generally referred to in the trade as a gig, such as that indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 which is mounted upon a shaft 11 so that the cylinder can be rotated. A cylinder of this type is usually equipped with a number of napping devices. indicated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 12 which are individually mounted on shafts such as 13 so that the individual nap pers 12 can be rotated with the shaft 13. Such nappers are generally mounted at angles with the axis of the cylinder napper as shown in FIG. 1, and usually there are a plurality of them sufficient to completely cover the cylinder 10. The rows of nappers have the individual napping devices therein mounted at the same angle with the axis of the cylinder, however, adjacent rows are mounted at different angles in order to reduce undesirable forces on the fabric being worked and in order to avoid end thrust on the cylinder avis.

The invention herein lies in the structure of the specific individual napper such as 12, and FIG. 2 shows a napper.

' commonly in use today formed of a natural burr or teasel.-

The structure shown in FIG. 2 consists of shaft 14 having mounted thereon two naturally grown prickly herbs having bracts or opposite clasping tooth leaves. In FIG. 2 individual teasels are designated by the numerals 15 and 16 and are maintained upon shaft 14 by means of gluing and clamp 17 which is welded to the shaft.

I propose to substitute for the device shown in FIG. 2 a new napping device of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIGS. 3 and 4 shaft 18 has mounted thereon a series of interlocking pointed napping discs. Two of these discs are designated by the numerals 19 and 20, respectively, in FIG. 4. These discs are identical, and in FIG. 3 have each been designated generally by the numeral 21 to aid in describing the structure shown therein.

Each napping disc has a cylindrical hub portion 22 with a circular opening 23 formed therein to receive shaft 18. Hub 22 is formed on one surface thereof with male projections 24 and 25 displaced 180 degrees from each other. The other surface of hub 22 is formed with female depressions 26 and 27 which lie 180 degrees apart and are slightly offset with respect to opposite corresponding male projections 24 and 25. In the drawings the offset angle is 7 degrees. The male projections are uniform and the female depressions are uniform, so that the male projections 24 and 25 of any disc can be received by the female depressions 26 and 27 of any other disc to interlock the discs and prevent relative rotation thereof.

In the present embodiment two male projections and two female depressions are shown however, the invention contemplates that the number of these can be varied from one to two or more.

FIG. 4 illustrates the male projections 24 and 25 of disc 20 received by the female depressions 26 and 27 of disc 19. Both of these interlocked discs are mounted upon shaft 18 shown in phantom.

An individual disc indicated by the numeral 21 is shown in FIGS. and 6. The disc is formed with a series of pointed hook-like members which are integral with the hub and as shown extend radially from a point in the center of the central opening formed therein. One skilled in the art could readily modify the design so that the same result could be accomplished with non-radially extending or off-center members and remain within the inventive concept presented herein.

Each of the radially extending hook members is indicated by the numeral 28 in the drawings. There are also a series of smaller radially extending pointed members indicated by the numeral 29 in the drawings. One of these shorter members lies on either side of each longer member.

In FIG. 5 the male projections 24 and 25 appear on the top surface of hub 22, whereas the female depressions 26 and 27 are seen on the bottom surface of the hub in FIG. 6. Observing FIG. 6, it is noted that the female depression 27 lies on the center line of the long pointed member indicated by the numeral 28' and the female depression 26 lies between the long pointed members 28" and 28", so that when two of the discs are interlocked with the male projections inserted within the respective female depression, the teascl points form a spiral based on the angle of offset.

Each of the pointed members as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 is formed of a triangular cross section and extends radially from the hub at an angle to the plane of the hub with a portion of the end turned back toward the plane of the hub to form a hook. In FIG. 4 the pointed turned back end portions are designated by the numerals 30 and 31 for disc 19, and 32 and 33 for disc 20. The napping disc so formed presents a concave surface on one side and a convex surface on the other.

To assemble a napping device according to this invention, individual discs are placed upon shaft 18 as shown in FIG. 3 and retained at one end by retaining clamp 35 which is welded to shaft 18. Male projections or female depressions of the type previously described situated on the last disc can mechanically interlock with like projections or depressions on clamp 35 to prevent rotation of the disc. Also if it is desired, a rubber retainer or some other suitable friction member can be disposed between retaining clamp 35 and the first disc in order to prevent the disc from rotating upon the shaft 18. The rotation is prevented by the engagement of member 35 with the hub surface of the first disc which is pressed against member 35 by the remaining discs and retaining ring 36. This construction maintains the discs on shaft 18, and enables the pressure of the discs against the member 35 to be maintained.

Each of the discs in FIG. 3 is limited in relative rotation with respect to the remainder of the discs since each of the discs has its male projections disposed in the female depressions of an adjacent disc. The discs are prevented from rotating as a group about shaft 18 because of the retaining engagement of the first disc with retaining member 35.

This assembly results in a disc group with each disc having projecting radially outward from its center a num ber of hooked points. Each unit or disc is keyed to an adjacent disc so that when the stack is formed each disc has its hooked points offset with respect to the hooked points on the adjacent discs, so that the hooked points do not fall in a line, but form a spiral pattern.

The discs are of uniform diameter and the number of points and the resiliency and angle of points can be modified in order to obtain the desired surface characteristic of a specific fibrous material. Once the desired surface characteristic for a specific fibrous material has been realized, the device can be duplicated by duplication of discs having the same characteristics. The resiliency and yield point of the discs can be modified in order to obtain the characteristic desired, and the life of the discs is determined primarily by the material used to form the discs.

Therefore, for a particular operation a material can be selected to achieve a particular desired result, and will have a calculable life span for use in the particular application. Additionally, a disc stack can be selected which will not dry out when placed near heating units in a plant so that the users are not limited in the application. Further, the number of hook points desired can be altered at will, and once the characteristic desired has been achieved, the characteristic on the same type fibrous material can be duplicated since the condition of the device for modifying the surface characteristic of the fibrous material is fixed and is not random. Additionally, the individual cylinders can be disassembled if desired, and can be made of stacks of various lengths to accommodate various configurations of fibrous materials.

I prefer to form the individual disc from plastic since the characteristics of plastic can be controlled to a great degree including the resiliency and strength, and plastics are a light material and easy to Work with.

In the drawings thus far discussed, one selected configuration of disc has been shown. However, it should be understood that the discs selected can have any number of long pointed members and the angle at which the pointed members project from the plane of the hub, and the precise form of the turn back or hook end, can be altered in accordance with the fabric to be napped and the napping characteristic desired. Likewise, the actual material from which the discs are formed can be selected in accordance with the napping characteristic desired and the fabric to be mapped.

In FIGS. 9 through 14 an alternate form of disc is illustrated and designated generally by the numeral 37. This disc resembles closely the disc shown in the first embodiment and designated therein by the numeral 21. However, the configuration of disc 37 is more readily adapted to forming from sheet stock in a one or twostep stamping operation. It is contemplated, therefore, that the disc illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 14 be made from spring metal and have a relatively flat central portion 33 formed with opening 39 therein in order that disc 37 can be mounted upon a shaft. Hook members 40 extend radially from central portion 38 with an angle of approximately 15 degrees between their center lines. This angle, of course, can be varied to suit the particular application.

A sectional view of one of the radially extending members 40 is shown in FIG. 10 and the section thereof designated by the letter A forms an angle with the plane of central section 38, although section A is itself flat and has a rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 11. The portion of member 46 designated by the letter B in FIG. 10 is creased at the line 4 1 to form a V-cross section of varying magnitude as illustrated in views FIGS. 12 through 14 throughout section B.

A disc so formed would have in flat section A an easily bendable portion and in crease section B a rigid portion. This would results in a disc with a stiff point and a flexible base which have been found to be desirable characteristics.

A plurality of discs of the type shown in FIG. 9 would be assembled in the same manner as discs of the type shown in the first embodiment. Although no male and female coupling members are shown on central portion 38 of disc 37, it is contemplated that a suitable coupling means will be necessary and among others, the coupling structure shown in the first embodiment may be readily utilized if desired. One skilled in the art might desire to key the individual discs to the shaft in a particular application.

As in the previous-1y described embodiment, discs of the type shown in FIG. 9 are assembled into a stack with the points of each disc offset with respect to the points of adjacent discs. The offset can be accomplished in the same way it is accomplished in the first embodiment or other suitable means may be used.

Napping devices constructed in accordance with this invention can be used to replace napping devices now in operation, such as the type shown in FIG. 2, and they can be mounted upon cylinders as shown in FIG. 1 at varying angles and of varying lengths so that there will be little or no valleys and high points formed in the surface characteristic of the fibrous material.

In use, the material to be napped would be drawn across the roller shown in FIG. 1, and as the cylinders begin to rotate, an action is achieved with is not a scraping action since the prongs of the discs penetrate the material whose surface characteristic is being modified and accomplish a plucking action which raises the nap and results in a desired surface characteristic.

Thus, among others, the several objects in the invention as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material including in combination a disk formed of a non metallic plastic, a substantially rigid cylindrical hub of said disk, a first surface of said hub, a second surface of said hub, a cylindrical opening formed through said hub from said first surface to said second surface, a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical opening, a plurality of arms of said disk each of which is attached at one end to said hub in cantilever manner and extends away from said hub forming an acute angle with the projection of said axis from said first surface, a triangular cross section of each of said arms with the apex thereof centrally located on the side of said second surface and a hat edge of said triangular cross section on the side of said first surface, a plurality of second arms of said disk each of which is attached at one end to said hub in cantilever manner, a second triangular cross section of each of said second arms with the apex thereof centrally located on the side of said first surface, a fiat edge of said second triangular cross section on the side of said second surface, each of said second arms being shorter than said first arms and terminating in :a point between adjacent first arms with said flat edge contacting adjacent first arms and having gradually increased length and an increase in cross sectional area as said hub is approached whereby the combination of said first and second cross sections undergoes an increase as said hub is approached, a male projection formed on said first surface, a female recess formed in said second surface, said male projection being of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said female recess, a shaft having a regular cylindrical peripheral surface extending through the cylindrical opening of said hub and mounting said disk, a plurality of additional disks identical to said first disk and mounted on said shaft in like manner with the female recess of each disk receiving the male projection of an adjacent disk and means limiting rotation of each of the end disks with respect to said shaft.

2. A device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material in accordance with claim 1 in which the means limiting rotation of each of the end discs of said plurality with respect to said shaft consists of a stop member rigidly attached to said shaft, a frictional surface of said stop member extending from said shaft, a frictional portion of an end disc adjacent said frictional surface and a second stop member rigidly attached to said shaft and maintaining said frictional surface and said frictional portion adjacent.

:3. A device for modifying the surface characteristic of a fibrous material in accordance with claim 1 in which the portion of each of said first arms adjacent said second arms is relatively stiff with respect to the remaining por tion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 464,353 Focht Dec. 1, 1891 553,402 Gonlding et al. Jan. 21, 1896 2,697,265 Corsan Dec. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 692,187 Germany June 14, 1940 1,860 Great Britain of 1875 506,962 Great Britain June 7, 1939 820,383 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1959 

1. A DEVICE FOR MODIFYING THE SURFACE CHARACTERISTIC OF A FIBROUS MATERIAL INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A DISK FORMED OF A NON METALLIC PLASTIC, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID CYLINDRICAL HUB OF SAID DISK, A FIRST SURFACE OF SAID HUB, A SECOND SURFACE OF SAID HUB, A CYLINDRICAL OPENING FORMED THROUGH SAID HUB FROM SAID FIRST SURFACE TO SAID SECOND SURFACE, A LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL OPENING, A PLURALITY OF ARMS OF SAID DISK EACH OF WHICH IS ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID HUB IN CANTILEVER MANNER AND EXTENDS AWAY FROM SAID HUB FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH THE PROJECTION OF SAID AXIS FROM SAID FIRST SURFACE, A TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION OF EACH OF SAID ARMS WITH THE APEX THEREOF CENTRALLY LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF SAID SECOND SURFACE AND A FLAT EDGE OF SAID TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION ON THE SIDE OF SAID FIRST SURFACE, A PLURALITY OF SECOND ARMS OF SAID DISK EACH OF WHICH IS ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID HUB IN CANTILEVER MANNER, A SECOND TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION OF EACH OF SAID SECOND ARMS WITH THE APEX THEREOF CENTRALLY LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF SAID FIRST SURFACE, A FLAT EDGE OF SAID SECOND TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION ON THE SIDE OF SAID SECOND SURFACE, EACH OF SAID SECOND ARMS BEING SHORTER THAN SAID FIRST ARMS AND TERMINATING IN A POINT BETWEEN ADJACENT FIRST ARMS WITH SAID FLAT EDGE CONTACTING ADJACENT FIRST ARMS AND HAVING GRADUALLY INCREASED LENGTH AND AN INCREASE IN CROSS SECTIONAL AREA AS SAID HUB IS APPROACHED WHEREBY THE COMBINATION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CROSS SECTIONS UNDERGOES AN INCREASE AS SAID HUB IS APPROACHED, A MALE PROJECTION FORMED ON SAID FIRST SURFACE, A FEMALE RECESS FORMED IN SAID SECOND SURFACE, SAID MALE PROJECTION BEING OF A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID FEMALE RECESS, A SHAFT HAVING A REGULAR CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE EXTENDING THROUGH THE CYLINDRICAL OPENING OF SAID HUB AND MOUNTING SAID DISK, A PLURALITY OF ADDITIONAL DISKS IDENTICAL TO SAID FIRST DISK AND MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT IN LIKE MANNER WITH THE FEMALE RECESS OF EACH DISK RECEIVING THE MALE PROJECTION OF AN ADJACENT DISK AND MEANS LIMITING ROTATION OF EACH OF THE END DISKS WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHAFT. 